Press Releases

ACS has welcomed the publication of the final Access to Cash Review, calling on the Government to ensure that consumer’s access to cash is protected in the future.

The review, published this morning (6^th March), notes that while the UK’s cash use is in decline, we are still a long way away from becoming a cashless society as millions of people still rely on cash on a daily basis. The review found that 17% of the UK population (8 million adults) would struggle to cope in a cashless society, while 97% of the population still carry cash on them.

The Association of Convenience Stores has called on the Government to ensure that there is a level playing field for the UK’s 16,944 rural convenience stores which allows them to keep pace with new technology and continue providing essential services to local people.

The 2019 Rural Shop Report reveals that rural convenience stores provide flexible jobs for almost 140,000 people, have invested over £271m in improving their businesses, and are providing a wider range of services despite being hampered by slower than average broadband speeds and unreliable mobile connectivity.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed Government proposals to extend the plastic bag charge in England to all retailers, as long as there are no additional reporting requirements on small businesses.

The Government is currently consulting on the extension of the plastic bag charge in England to businesses with fewer than 250 employees. A 5p charge for plastic bags has been in place for large businesses in England since 2015, with supermarkets reporting that plastic bag sales have fallen by 86% after the introduction of the charge.

With less than six weeks to go until the introduction of Making Tax Digital rules, only one in four convenience store retailers know what they need to do comply with the changes.

From 1^st April 2019, all businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT threshold (currently £85,000) must keep their VAT records digitally and use Making Tax Digital (MTD) compatible software to submit their VAT returns.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the findings of a new report published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the future of high streets and town centres.

In three months (20th May 2019), the tobacco ‘track and trace’ regulations will come into effect. ACS has compiled what is known so far about the regulations and how retailers will be required to comply. This information is available on ACS’ website at: https://www.acs.org.uk/track-and-trace

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the publication of a new consultation from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling on the Government to ensure that a manually administered deposit return scheme does not form part of its plan to encourage people to recycle more.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has criticised the Government for rejecting the recommendation of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee to delay the mandatory introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT by one year to April 2020. 

MTD reforms will require VAT registered businesses to submit their VAT records digitally using compatible software. The policy reforms aim to reduce the tax gap and help businesses have a more accurate overview of their tax affairs.

The Government have responded to the Environmental Audit Committee’s report on hand car washes, agreeing with recommendations to update pollution prevention guidance on the Gov.uk website, and writing to major supermarkets to remind them that hand car washes must have appropriate drainage to tackle pollution.

ACS has called on HMRC to publish details of the application process for tobacco track and trace codes as soon as possible, or else risk a backlog of applications and uncertainty about the supply of tobacco to retailers.

HMRC has this morning (30^th January) published limited details of what retailers will need to do to comply with the regulations once they come into force on 20^th May 2019, but have not included anything on how or when retailers can apply for the two codes necessary to be able to purchase tobacco.